El Palace

A true Barcelona classic I visited El Palace with my 18 year old daughter and we were both completely blown away. There is something about walking through those doors that just transports you. Built in 1919 and oozing history from every corner, this is old Barcelona at its most beautiful and it genuinely takes your breath away. The location could not be better. We were steps from Passeig de Gràcia, a short stroll from the Gothic Quarter and practically on the doorstep of Casa Batlló and La Pedrera. Perfect for a day of exploring the city. We had a long lazy breakfast and then headed up to the rooftop terrace where the views are just stunning. We also popped into the award winning Mayan spa to have a look around and it is absolutely gorgeous, well worth a visit even if you are not staying. If you want a slice of real Barcelona history rather than another slick modern hotel, this is the place. My daughter and I both agreed we would come back in a heartbeat.

I had the pleasure of staying at El Palace Hotel Barcelona last weekend, and what a delight it was. The hotel is beautiful and classically luxurious — as you would expect from a former authentic Ritz hotel. (By the way, I hope they one day recover their original Ritz name.) However, apart from all the glitz and glamour, what really makes this hotel stand out is the service provided by the staff. From the minute I arrived, I was received with a warmth and care that I very seldom experience in hotels. Gwen at the front desk made my stay perfect. The rest of the staff, no matter where I went, were top class and incredibly service-minded. I tried the Swiss Chalet on the roof terrace (very cool) and the upscale restaurant Amar, and they were both great. I have found my new home away from home in Barcelona.

We thoroughly enjoyed our week at El Palace from the moment we were ushered through the door by their friendly and helpful staff. This was to be a theme during our stay - the porter and concierge staff were wonderful, welcoming us by name and able to answer all our queries effectively and in a really friendly manner. For example we approached them for advice about attending a match at the Nou Camp (Barca won 3-0!) and they were so helpful including organising a car and recommending when to leave and a rstaurant/bar we could go to. The building itself is over a century old but the fittings and services are suited to today and it was a pleasure to be in these large, impressively furnished rooms. Our bed was so large we almost ended up communicating by text! The chamber staff too were lovely and always had a smile and a greeting for us. My partner used the Mayan Spa facilities and she reported it to be excellent. We did have some reservations about the food. While the breakfast was magnificent - huge choice, high quality, and as always, helpful staff to deal with any queries - we had also a couple of meals that weren't quite as good. We had an evening meal with the Hall restaurant and one in the rooftop poolside chalet and I'm afraid both were pretty ordinary with what we felt was a limited choice of similar dishes. The location was first class for easy access either on foot or by public transport to many of the main sights such as the Sagrida Familia though be warned that Las Ramblas is currently being "improved" and is missing a lot of the amenities it usually has. Overall we had a delightful experience and we certainly hope we can return some day.

The wonderful staff and elegant surroundings mean we would be very happy to return to El Palace. When you add its ideal central location, close to major shopping areas, umpteen restaurants and easy access to transport it's ideally placed to enjoy the many features of Barcelona. The concierge staff are absolutely first class, and every question we had was answered fully and with courteous humour. For example when we asked advice on travelling to the Nou Camp for a match the staff took time to explore various options and when we decided we would take a taxi they instructed the driver where and when to drop us that was convenient both for the stadium and a decent lunch. Speaking of food, the breakfast provision was highly impressive, with copious choices including local specialities and again wonderful staff. This is where we explain the 4 stars rather than 5. We ate twice here: once in the Hall and once in the "Alpine Hut" in rooftop pool area. In both cases we found the menus lacked variety and range of choice. In the case of the rooftop hut if a customer did not like cheese there was not much left to choose. Similarly the Hall did not have much selection,especially of mains. These minor disappointments will certainly not stop us returning and the three reasons for that are the staff, the staff, and the staff!

We had a truly wonderful stay at this hotel. Everything was perfect — the atmosphere, the service, and the attention to detail from the entire team. A very special thank you to Mr. Francisco, the Head of Concierge. His recommendations were absolutely amazing and made our experience unforgettable. We are so grateful and can’t wait to return!